Pentagon outlines four priorities that raise alarm in the US

• The Pentagon prioritizes domestic security, border control, and stability in the Western Hemisphere.
• Expanded role for US military in domestic affairs, including anti-drug and immigration enforcement support.
• Strategy signals conciliatory approach toward China and deterrence-based approach toward Russia.
• US urges NATO and other allies to take greater responsibility for regional defense.

The Pentagon has highlighted four main priorities, sparking concern in the United States due to the increasing domestic role of the military. The release comes amid heightened tensions following a recent incident in Minneapolis, where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers shot a US citizen, renewing concerns about the military and law enforcement’s role within the country.

The 34-page document, the first since 2022, outlines:

• Securing the United States.
• Supporting domestic military manufacturing.
• Criticizing European and Asian allies for relying on US defense capabilities.
• Avoiding hostility with China or Russia, focusing instead on deterrence.

The previous strategy under President Biden in 2022 had focused heavily on China as the primary challenge to US global dominance. The new Pentagon strategy aligns with last month’s National Security Strategy, moving away from the “America First” approach, and prioritizing US national interests over long-term foreign entanglements.

Domestic Security Emphasis

In a major shift, the Pentagon now considers domestic security and the stability of the Western Hemisphere as the top threat, rather than China. The strategy emphasizes:

• Securing borders and key locations.
• Combating drug traffickers.
• Defending the Western Hemisphere, referencing Trump’s revival of the Monroe Doctrine.
• Missile defense via the “Iron Dome” system protecting North America.
• Cybersecurity, nuclear weapons modernization, and counterterrorism efforts.

The document links homeland security with regional stability, aiming to protect Americans from direct and indirect threats. It also signals US involvement in key strategic areas, including the Panama Canal and Greenland, following Trump’s recent announcement of a framework for an Arctic security agreement with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, granting the US “full access” to Greenland.

Expanded Role in Domestic Law Enforcement

Border security, controlling illegal immigration, and preventing drug trafficking are now key Pentagon priorities. The strategy signals a growing partnership between the Department of Defense and domestic agencies like ICE. Activists warn that this could lead to nationwide deployment of the National Guard to control protests and civil unrest, citing plans to have troops ready across all 50 states by April 2026.

Message to Europe

The strategy clarifies that the US is not pursuing isolationism but expects European allies to take responsibility for their defense. NATO members are reminded that Russia remains a threat but is manageable. The document notes that the combined GDP of NATO members (excluding the US and Canada) is $22 trillion, compared to Russia’s $3 trillion, highlighting allies’ capacity to defend themselves. The US plans to reduce its air presence along NATO’s eastern borders and emphasizes that previous US funding covered nearly 100% of NATO’s defense costs.

Policy Toward China

The Pentagon takes a conciliatory tone toward China, focusing on strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region and reducing tensions with the Chinese military. The strategy explicitly states that the US does not seek to dominate, humiliate, or confront China, but to deter it from controlling key regions such as Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. The document promotes fair trade, stable diplomacy, and expanded military-to-military communication.

This approach comes ahead of a planned summit in April between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with particular focus on lowering tensions over Taiwan.